Setting up a Chiclid Tank

[Texaswoman]

I've been waiting since I started keeping fish to get a chiclid tank. It is atleast 70 gallons, but I got it from my cousin so I haven't filled it yet. I am thinking that I would like a pair of severums, and pair of blue acuras. Will this work, or is 2 pairs of the different types not good? I would also like to add maybe a pleco, gold nugget perferably, but any experience and advice would be good. If there is another smaller variety of fish that would work with these guys, let's hear them. Now, I know I can't put live plants in the tank, but do they like plastic ones? I've seen some of the gaint plants that they could carry around if they wanted, or do you go strictly no fake or live plants? I've also bought alot of the aquarium decor driftwood on clearance that I want to put in the tank. Are the fish just going to knock everything down and try to dig and push it, because I don't want something toppling on them. Thanks for the help.

 

[freddyk]

Hey Texaswoman

The best measurement you can give us at this point is the length of the tank, which will give a better idea of whether there's room for two pairs. As long as it's 4ft or longer then it should work, just set up a territory on each side. With two pairs though, you can pretty much forget about any other tankmates, except perhaps the pleco. If you were to choose one pair then you'd have a lot of options for non-cichlid tankmates.

Expect plants to be dug up. Driftwood and rocks and such can be used without a problem, just make sure anything heavy is layed out on the bottom of the tank (not on the substrate) and that any formations are nice and sturdy.

 

[fufanu360]

are we tlking pairs as in breeding pairs , or just like two, cuz its hard to find breeding pairs

 

[Vip]

like what fanfu said if there breeding pairs then no, but if they are not then yes.

 

[freddyk]

It's hard to just buy breeding pairs, but when purchasing them young it's easy to obtain them by purchasing several specimens letting them form their own.

 

[juanveldez]

like everyone else has said it is usually pretty hard to get adults right off the bat and even harder to take two adults that have never been kept together to form a bonded pair is usually even harder it usually takes many months and lots of work to get them to form a pair. though I suppose also it depends on if you are looking to have breeding pairs.

 

[Texaswoman]

Well, what I was planning on doing was buying them young and buying several of each, maybe 4-6 and wait for them to pair off, if I get that lucky, then sell or remove the others.

 

[Texaswoman]

The tank measures 4' long, 24" high, and 13" deep. Any more ideas?

 

[fufanu360]

that'd be a sweet angel tank with those demensions, theyre cichlids lol